Introductions of the 5 Poetry/Wisdom Books of the Old Testament-
Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song Of Solomon
Job
Author- Unknown historian
Recipients- The Israelites
Date- Unknown
Theme- God’s just dealings with a righteous man’s sufferings
Content- Job’s misery brought on by Satan, Job’s friends, God’s dealings with Job
Psalms
Author- David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Heman, Ethan, Moses and unknown authors
Recipients- The Israelites
Dated- Around 1440 B.C. to 540 B.C.
Themes- Praises, prayers, wisdom, confessions
Content- Arranged in 5 sections/books- Book 1- Psalms 1-41, Book 2- Psalms 42-72, Book 3- Psalms 73-89, Book 4- Psalms 90-106, Book 5- Psalms 107-150
Royal Psalms proclaiming God as king, Penitential Psalms confessing sin, Psalms of Zion regarding Jerusalem, Wisdom Psalms, Psalms of praise, Psalms that are prayers.
Proverbs
Author- Solomon, Agur, Lemuel, Other wise men
Recipients- The Israelites
Dated- 970 B.C. to 930 B.C.
Themes- Wisdom, Folly, Righteousness, Wickedness
Content- Importance of living wisely, Divine wisdom, Judgment on the foolish and wicked, Blessings for the righteous.
Ecclesiastes
Author- Solomon
Recipients- The Israelites
Dated- Around 930 B.C.
Theme- Life without God is meaningless
Content- Meaninglessness of materialism & human efforts without God, Old age and death, living with eternity in perspective.
Song of Songs
Author- Unknown/Solomon
Recipients- The Israelites
Dated- Around 930 B.C.
Theme- Emotional and intimate physical love story of a man and a woman, God’s love for Israel, Christ’s love for the church.
Content- Reflections during courtship days and on wedding day.